jrmotorsports55

Good to know. I think mine is roughly 1.5" below diff. Being that it's between the rear tires, not as worried. I agree the front pipes under the k member is my biggest worry area. We'll see once I get it on the ground.

On another note, found another setback today. The pass side head gasket is seeping coolant along the bottom edge. Not a happy person. Getting sick of chasing leaks on this engine. Going to finish the exhaust work, and a few other things, then will be pulling the top end apart. I noticed a rocker tick the other day so the covers have to come off anyway to adjust the rocker clearance.

jrmotorsports55

After doing some more digging, it may be the tstat housing that is leaking, and just running along the bottom of the head. Fingers crossed!

jrmotorsports55

Starting to get really pissed at this car. Worked on it on Monday, cleaning up the engine to chase the coolant leak. Fired it up, no leaks. Ran great. It was about 60 deg out Monday, and had been really cold the last time I ran it when it leaked. Dropped back to the 30s yesterday, so I went out to try it, and the starter won't even click. Battery is fully charged, so I now have to check all of the starter wiring. NOT HAPPY!

jrmotorsports55

Update, good news is that the starter issue is fixed, the trigger wire had popped off the starter. Bad news is that there was another coolant drip on the floor. Chased it and it appears to be the bottom front former of the head gasket. I chased upward, and everything is dry. I am hoping it is just the lower head bolt leaking. I am going to pull all the lower bolts and chase the threads/re-seal them. Fingers crossed. Never ends with this car.

tbone heller

Before pulling the head bolts, you might want to try some of these tablets: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bar-s-lea...&wl13=&veh=sem. Two of these were placed in the radiator of every Ford car & truck that came down the assembly line for years & maybe still today. GM used them too. They only set-up after contacting air, & will not stop up your system.

jrmotorsports55

Funny you mention these, I was looking in to some of the liquid leak stops as this seems to be common as well as other minimal leaks. I worked on the car today, and not a drop since yesterday. I have also had an annoying drip on the back of the water pump plate that comes and goes. Have already tried re-sealing that once, still doing it. Might try those tablets or one of the other Head gasket/system sealers that are on the market versus tearing it down.

On another note, good couple of hours today, fabbed the three mounting brackets for the coolant tank relocation, so that is one more item checked off.

jrmotorsports55

Quick update, coolant tank installed. Pulled upper intake, and pulled drivers side valve cover and re-set valve lash on that side as I had a minor tick (what a pain that back bolt is to get to). Also put the factory temp gauge sending unit in to a hole I drilled in the back of the intake on the driver side and put my auto meter temp gauge sending unit in the front hole (rear hole does not have cross flow, front does, so it will be more accurate). Today I plan on pulling the 8 lower head bolts on the pass side where I have the minor seeping (although it has not done it the last few days), then will button it back up. Will probably throw in 2 of those tablets to be safe as well. Getting closer to the end.

jrmotorsports55

Ended up only doing the front bolt where the seeping was as it was obvious that some idiot (me) was a little stingy on the thread sealer and that is why it was seeping. re-sealed it and got the engine back together. Still have other items to check of the list, but getting there. Hope to drive this thing when winter is over.

jrmotorsports55

Got some garage time in today. Pulled the accelerator pedal out and bent it to take out slack (I'm using ford Throttle cable, and I had 1 inch of play). Also wired in the backup lights, they now work. Finally I located, drilled, and installed the O2 sensors (been running very rich in limp mode). Topped off the coolant (have not had any leaking), and fired it up. I now have surging idle, all through warm-up and once up to temp with flashing CEL. Also found a small power steering leak from the back of the pump that was not there before. My exhaust still has some holes in it that need tacked, and I am thinking I need to set the idle on my TPS sensor (as well as timing), so that could be some of the surging. I'll mess with that stuff, then pull the codes if needed. Good times.

jrmotorsports55

Got the ECU mounted. Used an early NA pass foot plate (covers stock ECU on first few years of NA body) as the mounting points were all there on my car. Attached the ECU to the underside of the cover plate and fits great.

jrmotorsports55

It's been a while, so I thought I'd post an update. I haven't touched the car since the last post as I picked up an 04 STI that I needed to get some items fixed on before it was safe to drive. Just wrapping things up with that.. Bad news is I found out I need shoulder surgery, which I will be having in a few weeks, and that will have me down for 3 or so months. Looks like another delay in getting the beast on the road. Good news is that there is not too much left to do, so I should still be able to drive it this year. More to come.

jrmotorsports55

Had my surgery a week and a half ago. 5 more weeks in sling, then slow build up of strength. Killing me, as I have two project cars that are at a standstill now.

jrmotorsports55

Minor update as I am still recovering from surgery and am limited. Pulled the ECU codes and found a few things I need to track down and repair, nothing major. Hoping to be out of my sling in a few weeks and can then get back to minor load work. Want this car done!

jrmotorsports55

Got out in the garage yesterday, and fixed the check engine light, no more flashing. That made me pretty happy. Turns out I was an idiot, and had the MAP/Baro sensor hooked up to the manifold like it was a MAP car, but I have MAF. Ooops. At least it was an easy fix. Had a few other codes that may have been stored. Now that the CEL is gone I'll pull codes again and see what pops. Can't wait to get rid of this sling and get the go ahead to get back to work. So close, I can't wait to drive it!

jrmotorsports55

Have not done much, picked up another car, Shelby GT500, and between that and the STI, been keeping me busy getting those where I want them (clean up/little things/etc). Going to be leaving for vaca soon, hope to get back on the Miata when I return, as my shoulder is pretty much healed at this point.

jrmotorsports55

Quick update, have had some other projects to work on. Fired up the Miata for the first time in a few months yesterday just to get things moving. Hoping to get started on it again soon.

jrmotorsports55

Well, put her on the ground today to check exhaust clearances before I finish weld anything. Front springs completely compressed (had a feeling this would happen). Looks like I need new suspension before I go any further. Yeah for me.

More to come....

jrmotorsports55

Just ordered the Flyin Miata VMAXX Track coilovers and matching sway bars (these are the ones with the heavier duty springs). We'll see how it goes.

97miatam

Please give us your thoughts when you get those coilovers on. I have been eyeing them but haven't wanted to spend the money because the spring rates are a little on the soft side.

jrmotorsports55

Yeah, I wanted something that wouldn't kill me on bad roads, plus the cost was right. Great reviews, and other comparable setups are twice the price. We'll see.

jrmotorsports55

Started her up today as I had to put air in the tires as they were very low from sitting 2 years. Ran her pretty good, and it is in the 80s here, she got hotter than when she was up in the air. Water around 230 and oil around 240 after running for 15 mins or so with me keeping the revs in the 3,000 range. Let her idle 5 mins or so after, did not come back down. Thinking I may need to add a pusher fan in front of the condenser to help the 2 pullers behind the radiator. That or make a shroud for the 2 pullers. Something else for the list.

jrmotorsports55

Suspension arrived yesterday. Last weekend I started cutting the exhaust up to try and tuck it better right behind the front tires where it was low. Think I have a idea of what needs to be done and I should gain a lot of clearance there. I'm going to have to make up a guard for the oil pan as it will definitely be the lowest point on the car now. More to come.

jrmotorsports55

Quick update, finally found some time to work on the car yesterday. Finished modifying the exhaust and have it tacked how I like it. Pulled it all off and it's time to start the finish welding/cleaning it up, then reinstall. Next will be the suspension swap.

Getting closer, although I doubt it will be on the road before spring as winter is coming fast.

jrmotorsports55

Been a while since I have updated this thread. Not too much to update. I have been really busy and traveling for work, so limited time. I finish welded the x pipe, still need to clean up the flux core welds and check for any pinholes. Then will do the same for the two tail pipe sections. I have installed 3 corners of the suspension, waiting on the right front until I see if I have to drop the control arm to reinstall the x pipe (pretty tight clearance). I am guessing little will be done until after the holidays as weekends are pretty full for the rest of the year and it's not like I am in a hurry now since the weather is crap until spring. More to come.

jrmotorsports55

Ugh, there are times when I really hate this car. Out in the garage finishing cleanup work on the x pipe, and look under the car and there is a puddle of coolant. Now that it has gotten really cold again, pass head is seeping again. Last spring I pulled the front bolt and resealed it thinking that was the problem, but I think other bolts are seeping as well, so time to pull the header and other bolt to be resealed. Also see that the water pump backing plate bolt on the drivers side is seeping. I have resealed that one a few times already so this really pisses me off. New Ford Racing pump, just keeps leaking. Time to pull it out again.